Metal weather strip and sash balance



Sept. 23, 1941. M. J. GOSSEN METAL WEATHER STRIP AN D SASH BALANCE Filed Dec. 8, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 N VENT OR. /V/A/Pf/A/ (j 603% ATTORNEY.

Sept. 23, 1941. M GQSSEN 2,257,051

METAL WEATHER STRIP AND SASH BALANCE Filed Dec. 8, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 14 1Z8 26 f 25 4/ 5 1 1g 22 20 11 10 10 12 14:21 19 2 11 9 i .r ".12

U INVENTOR.

I MA/Pr/A/ U. 6033: 18 BY dl qmmv ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 23, 1941 METAL WEATHER STRIP AND SASH BALANCE Martin J. Gossen, Whitefish Bay, Wis.

Application December 8, 1939, Serial No. 308,107

11 Claims.

in conjunction with the side, walls of the slotted tube of the device a three point contact of the weather strip device with the sash to preclude the passage of drafts between the sides of the sash and the side members of the window frame in all positions of the sash within the frame;

To locate the flange formations aforesaid along the edges of the devices adjacent to the parting strips in the frame to provide metal running surfaces for the sashes along the parting strips for ease in sliding the sashes within the frame;

To have the flange formations aforesaid of such dimensions laterally that said flange formations may take the place of the wooden parting strips heretofore employed;

To provide constructions, either by the use of shields or by offsetting the slots in the tubes, to eliminate noise by preventing the coils of the lifting springs catching along the edges of the slots in the sliding of the sashes in the window frame;

To have the shields when used formed of sheet met-a1 and of similar resiliency to the tubes so that the shields may be held in place by yieldably engaging the tubes; and

To have the shields cover the portions of the slots not traversed by the fasteners which connect the lifting elements within the tubes to the sashes through the slots.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following specification taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary view of a window frame and sliding sash assembly equipped with sash balance and weather strip devices of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section-a1 view with parts broken away and elevation, respectively, taken on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows one of my improved weather strip and sash balance units applied to a sash, the unit being in elevation and in section, respectively,

to showthe location and extent of the shield heretofore referred to.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view showing a modified form of a weather strip construction to be later described;

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view showing another modification in respect to the weather strip construction; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of my improved weather strip element.

In the drawings, l indicates generally a window frame, and 2, 3 indicate respectively, upper and lower sashes slidably mounted within said frame in passing relation. I

The frame has slideways at its side jambs 4, 4 for the sashes. These slideways are provided by the jambs and the cooperating spaced stop strips 5, 6 and l as in window constructions of this character. The stop strips extend along the ambs at each sideof the frame and also along the header 8 at the top of the frame as shown in Fig. 2. The strips 5 and I are the inner and the outer stop strips, respectively, while the strips 6 are between the sashes and constitute the parting strips therefor as shown in Fig. 3. The frame has a sill 9 against which the lower sash 3 seats when closed as shown in Fig. 1.

The combined sash balance and weather strip units of my invention are located at the opposite sides of each sash as in my prior patent aforesaid and as in said patent each unit is comprised of the desired resilient sheet metal material formed to have a slotted tube 10 which extends into a groove II in the side rail l2 of the associated sash as shown in Fig. 3. The tubes [0 house the coiled lifting springs l3 for the respective sashes.

The units extend approximately the full height of the frame opening occupied by the sashes and thus the units encompass substantially the full length of the travel of the sashes within the frame. This is likewise true in my prior patent aforesaid, and similarly, the tubes II) have laterally extending base fianges ll, l4 through which the fastening elements are inserted for securing the tubes to the adjacent side jambs 4 of the frame. In ractice only one of the flanges 14 need be used to secure a unit to the frame, although both flanges may be so used should the occasion demand.

The flanges M are integrally connected with the base wall l5 of the unit. The base wall l5 extends across the bottom of the tube I0 and seats against the adjacent side jamb of the frame.

The base walls 15 and their flanges l4 occupy sashes at the sides of the same.

the clearance spaces between the frame and the The fastening elements refereed to are marked H3.

The lifting springs I3, as in my prior patent, are completely housed within the tubes l and have hooked formations II at their upper ends to connect the springs to the upper ends of the associated tubes. The lower ends of the springs are connected with their associated sashesby fasteners |8 preferably in the form of nails driven into the adjacent side rails of the sashes and extending through the slots IS! in the tubes. The slots I9 extend the full length of the tubes and are formed by terminating short of each other the flange formations 20, 20 along the outer edges of the side walls 2|, 2| of the tubes.

The flanges 20 are substantially co-planar and extend over the springs l3 to keep them in the tubes in all positions of sliding adjustment of the sashes within the frame. Due to the slots l9, the side walls 2| of the tubes are free at their outer ends and thus said side walls may be flexed laterally to yieldably engage against the adjacent side surfaces of the sash grooves into which the tubes I0 extend. This tensioning of the side walls 2| is usually done before the tubes are inserted into the sash grooves, and this is done before the sashes are placedin the frame I. In this way, a sash and its two weather strip units may be arranged in assembled relation without hindrance by the window frame. The customary installing practice is to place the assembly in the frame with the sash at the' lower half of the unit as shown in Fig. 4. This leaves the upper half of the unit exposed so that the fasteners l6 may be driven into the frame through one of the flanges I4. The sash is then slid upwardly and the lower portion of the unit is secured to the frame. The spring is in the unit and is connected to the sash before the unit is fastened to the frame.

One feature of my present invention is the provision of an additional flange formation 22 along one longitudinal edge of the unit to engage against the sash in parallelism with the tube I0 to provide in conjunction therewith a three point contact of the unit with the sash. In the embodiment shown, the flange 22 is along the edge of the unit adjacent to the parting strip 6 and lies between said strip and the opposed side face of the sash. This gives the flange 22 the function of providing a metal facing for the parting strip and thus the flange provides a metal running surface for the sash at the parting strip. This precludes the possibility of the sash sticking or binding against the parting strip as the sash runs against a metal surface 22 and not against the wooden parting strip as heretofore.

The flange 22 substantially covers the surface of the parting strip facing the sash and bears against the sash by reason of the spring tension of the tube wall 2| next adjacent said flange urging the sash in the direction of the flange 22. The other tube wall 2| may or may not be sufficiently flexed to engage the sash in the groove II. If it is so flexed to engage the sash a three point contact is thus provided which precludes the passage of drafts between the sash andthe jamb members of the window frame. Hence, any shifting of the sash out of its normal plane will not release all of the contacts and the passage of drafts between the sides of the sash and the frame will be prevented by the contacts which are retained. Moreover, the retained contacts is held by the tubes against any appreciable.

will be tightened by the shifting of the sash against, them. For example, shifting the sash towards the parting strips will tighten the engagement of the contacts at the flanges 22 and the outside walls 2| of the tubes l0. Shifting the sash in the opposite direction will tighten the contact at the inner walls 2| of the tubes and allow the outer walls to flex to retain contact with the sash. It is to be understood that normally the sash is mounted within the frame to engage all three contacts and hence the sash shifting within the limits of the clearance provided for sliding the sash. The contacts do function, however, in the manner stated in the event any shifting of the sash out of its normal vertical plane should occur. With the sash, running against the metal flanges 22 of its respective units, the sash may be raised and lowered with more ease and freedom than when the sash runs directly against a Wood parting strip as heretofore. This is important when it is considered that the flange 22 is positioned to engage the sash and that the next adjacent tube wall 2| forces the sash against said flange 22.

As shown in the drawings, the weather strip unit is formed from a single piece of sheet metal. This may be of spring bronze or aluminum, if an aluminum finish is desired. In either case, the flange formation 22 is integrally connected to the base wall l5 and the adjacent flange l4 ofthe associated tube "L, This gives the flange 22 a double thickness of metal with the fold line 23 between them and along the outer edge of the flange. The wall 24 of the flange directly joins the flange H while the wall 25 directly joins the base wall |5 of the tube as shown. This double formation strengthens the flange 22 and holds it in place.

In the devices shown in Fig. 2, the flange walls 24, 25 overlap. This is the construction when a wood parting strip 6 is employed between the flanges 22 of the two adjacent units. In Fig. 5,

the flanges 22a, 22a of the two units are formed to occupy the space for a separate parting strip and thus provide a window construction eliminating the need for an independent parting strip. This is accomplished by widening the flanges 22a, their side walls 26, 2lbeing spaced apart out of contact as shown. The flanges do, however, contact at the meeting points of the two units.

In the units of Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, the slots 9 in the tubes I0 are centrally disposed between the side walls of the tubes. To prevent the coils of the springs |3 catching on the edges of these slots and producing noise as the springs are expanded and contracted in the sliding of the sashes, I provide a shield element 28 for each tube. Each shield fits within its tube over the slot l9 and closes the slot with respect to the spring in that portion of the tube not traversed by the fastening element l8. This confines the shields 28 to the upper half portions of the tubes as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. This locates the shields over the slots where the coils of the springs are at their normal diameters when contracted. It is here that the springs, if exposed to the slots, would likely catch along the edges of the slots and produce a scraping or scratching noise when expanded. The shields prevent this and, hence, a silently acting unit is provided. The shields need not cover the portions of the slots traversed by the fasteners |B as the springs reduce in diameter when stretched and are not likely to catch along the edges of the slots.

Each shield is located within its tube as before stated, and has its body wall 29 extending across the slot IS in the tube. The side walls 30, 30 of the shield bear against the inner surfaces of the side walls 2| of the tube and by reason of the resilient material of which the shield is made the shield is yieldably held in its position within the tube. The shields may be made to fit the depth and width of the tubes to hold them in place. This brings the side walls 30 of the shield against the tube walls I and 2| as shown. The shields are applied to the tubes by inserting the shields into the ends of the tubes, the side walls 30 of the shields yieldingly pressing against the-tube walls 2| as the shields are slid into the tubes. The shields are stopped when their upper ends come flush with the upper ends of the tubes as shown in Fig. 4.

The modification shown in Fig. 6 follows the same construction as shown in Figs. 1 to 5. The difference is that no shield element is required to cover the slot in the tube because the slot 3| in the tube Illa is provided along one corner of the tube. This locates the edges of the slot beyond the diameter of the spring Na and the coils of the spring can not engage the edges of the slot. The fastening element 32 which connects the lower end of the spring to the sash 3a is inserted through the corner slot 3| either at an angle thereto as shown in Fig. 6 or parallel to the adjacent side wall 2lb of the tube. In

the latter case, the inner end of the fastener would be sufficiently bent or deflected to be engaged with the lower end of the spring. Here the spring has a hook shaped lower end as shown in Fig. 2. In providing the slot 3|, the flange 33 on the tube wall 2Ia extends over the spring, the other tube wall 2|b being devoid of a flange formation at its outer end.

The devices shown and described are simple in construction and provide effective weather stripping for the sashes and also lifting devices of the character shown in my prior patent. It may be pointed out that flange formations 22 or 22a not only provide metal running surfaces for the sashes, but being of metal which does not tarnish need not be painted. It is also pointed out that the yielding engagement of tube walls and the flanges aforesaid with the sash develop sufficient friction to hold the sash in any position of adjustment within the frame against the lifting tendency of the springs l3. The latter counter-balances the sashes at intermediate points in their vertical movements. It is to be understood that the weather strip units may be used with or without the shields herein referred to.

It is also pointed out, that the shields when used provide in conjunction with the tubes unbroken bearing surfaces for the springs within the tubes. This gives the springs lateral support and prevents them from rattling in response to vibration. In the particular embodiment shown herein, the bottom wall l5 of a tube provides one bearing surface for a spring, while the-shield walls 29 and 30 provide the other bearing surfaces. In practice, the springs are of diameter to fit rather closely within the tubes and hence the continuous bearing surfaces provide for an easy spring action.

The details of construction shown and described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, except as pointed out in the annexed claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a window frame. a sash slidably mounted within said frame, a metal weather strip device for the sash within the frame and extending substantially the full length of the travel of the sash within the frame, said device being secured to the frame and formed to provide a bottom wall and a slotted tube and a flange formation both extending outwardly from said bottom wall towards the sash, said tube having laterally spaced side walls extending into a groove in the adjacent side portion of the sash, said flange formation extending along one longitudinal edge of the device in spaced relation to the tube and overlapping the adjacent outer side surface of the sash, and a coiled spring for lifting the sash located within the tube, said spring having its upper end in fixed relation to the upper end of the tube and its lower end connected to the sash through the slot in the tube, said device being comprised of resilient sheet metal and the side wall of the tube next adjacent to the flange being tensioned to press and normally hold the sash in sliding contact with the flange with sufficient tightness to hold the sash in any position of sliding adjustment within the frame against the lifting action of the spring.

2. In combination, a window frame, a sash slidably mounted within said frame, a metal weather strip device for the sash within the frame and extending substantially the full length of the travel of the sash within the frame, said device being secured to the frame and formed to provide a bottom wall and a slotted tube and a flange formation both extending outwardly from said bottom wall towards the sash, said tube having laterally spaced side walls extending into a groove in the adjacent side portion of the sash, said flange formation extending along one longitudinal edge of the device in spaced relation to the' tube and overlapping the adjacent outer side surface of the sash, and a coiled spring for lifting the sash located within the tube, said spring having its upper end in fixed relation to the'upper end of the tube and its lower end connected to the sash through the slot in the tube, said device being comprised of resilient sheet metal and the side wall of the tube next adjacent to the flange being tensioned to press and normally hold the sash in sliding contact with the flange with sufficient tightness to hold the sash in any position of sliding adjustment within the frame against the lifting action of the spring, the other side wall of the tube being tensioned to engage the adjacent side surface of the groove and provide in conjunction with the flange and the first mentioned side wall a three point contact of the weather strip device with the sash.

3. In combination, a window frame, a sash slidably mounted within said frame, a metal weather strip device for the sash within the frame and extending substantially the full length of the travel of the sash within the frame, said device being secured to the frame and formed to provide a bottom wall and a pair of laterally spaced sash engaging members both extending outwardly from said bottom wall towards the sash, one of said members extending into a groove in the adjacent side portion of the sash and the other member engaging and overlapping an outer side surface of the sash in parallel relation to said groove, and a coiled spring for lifting the sash, said spring having its upper end in fixed relation to the upper end of the bottom wall and its lower end connected to the sash within the groove, said device being comprised of resilient sheet metal and one of said members being tensioned to press and normally hold the sash in sliding contact with the other member with sufficient tightness to hold the sash sash, said tube being disposed inwardly from the side margins of the device and having laterally spaced side walls extending into a groove in the adjacent side portion of the sash, said bottom wall extending laterally beyond the side walls and having return bend connections therewith to join the side walls to the bottom wall, said flange formation overlapping an outerside surface of the sash and constituting a folded section of the adjacent return bend connection of the bottom wall, and a coiled spring for lifting the sash located'in said tube and having its upper end in fixed relation to the upper end of the tube and its lower end connected to the sash through the slot in the tube, said device being comprised of resilient sheet metal and the side wall of the tube next adjacent to said flange being tensioned to press and normally hold the sash in sliding contact with the flange with sufiicient tightness to hold the sash in any position of sliding adjustment within the frame against the lifting action of the spring.

5. In combination, a window frame, a sliding sash, a metal-weather strip device for the sash within the frame, said device being secured to the frame and comprised of resilient sheet metal formed to provide a bottom wall and a slotted tube extending outwardly from the bottom wall towards the sash, said tube extending substantially the full length of travel of the sash within the frame and having laterally spaced side walls extending into a groove in the adjacent side portion of the sash, said slot extending the full length of the tube, at least one of said side walls being tensioned to yieldably engage the adja-.-

cent side surface of said groove, said side walls having inwardly directed flanges along their outer longitudinal edges to provide the slot in the tube opposite said bottom wall, a coiled spring located within the tube for lifting the sash and held therein by said flanges in all positions of sliding adjustment of the sash within the frame, said spring having its upper end connected to the upper end of the tube and its lower end connected to the sash through the slot in the 'tube, said spring being stretched and having its coils reduced in diameter on the downward slide ing of the sash and being contracted and having 6. In combination, a window frame, a sliding sash, a metal weather strip device for the sash within the frame, said device being secured to the frame and comprised of resilient sheet metal formed to provide a bottomwall and a slotted tube extending outwardly from the bottom Wall towards the sash, said tube extending substantially the full length of travel of the sash within the frame and having laterally spaced side walls extending into a groove in the adjacent side portion of the sash, at least one of said side walls being tensioned to yieldably engage the adjacent side surface of said groove, said side walls having inwardly directed flanges along their outer longitudinal edges to provide the slot in the tube opposite said bottom wall, a coiled spring located within the tube to lift the sash and held therein by said flanges in all positions of sliding adjustment of the sash within the frame, said spring having its upper end connected to the upper end of the tube and its lower end connected to the sash through the slot in the tube, said spring being stretched and having its coils reduced in diameter on the downward sliding of the sash and being contracted and its ,coils enlarged indiameter on the upward sliding of the sash, and a shield element in the form of an elongated strip inserted into the tube between the flanges and the spring and closing the slot in that portion of the tube not traversed by the spring connection with the sash to prevent the coils of the spring when enlarged catching on the edges of the slot in the sliding of the sash along the tube.

7. In combination, a window frame, a sliding sash therein, a metal weather strip device for the sash within the frame, said device being secured to the frame and comprised of resilient sheet metal formed to provide a bottom wall and a slotted tube extending outwardly from the bottom wall towards the sash, said tube extending substantially the full length of travel of the sash within the frame and having laterally spaced side walls extending into a groove in the adjacent side portion of the sash, at least one of said side walls being tensioned to yieldably engage the adjacent side surface of saidgroove, a coiled spring located within said tube for lifting the sash, said spring having its upper end connected to the upper end of the tube and its lower end connected to the sash through the slot in the tube, said spring being stretched and having its coils reduced in diameter on the downward sliding of the sash and being contracted and having its coils enlarged in diameter on the upward sliding of the sash, and a single flange on the tube along the outer longitudinal edge of one of its side walls and extending towards and terminating short of the other side wall to provide the slot in the tube opposite the bottom wall to one side of the spring to prevent the coils of the spring when enlarged catching on the edges of the slot in the sliding of the sash along the tube..

8. A combined sash balance and weather stripdevice of the character. described comprising, a weather strip element comprised of resilient sheet metal formed to provide a bottom wall to provide a seat for the device, an elongated tube and a flange formation on one side of said bottom wall, said tube having laterally spaced side walls disconnected at their outer ends to provide a slot between them opposite the bottom wall longitudinally of the tube, said bottom wall extending laterally beyond said side walls and having return bend connections therewith to integrally connect the side walls to the bottom wall, said flange formation extending along one side edge of the tube in spaced relation thereto and being constituted of a folded section of the adjacent return bend connection of the bottom wall to integrally connect the flange to both the bottom wall and the adjacent side wall of the tube, and a sash lifting spring located within the tube and connected at one end to the tube and having its other end available for connection with a sash through the slot in the tube.

9. A weather strip device of the character described comprising, a weather strip element comprised of resilient sheet metal formed to provide a bottom wall to provide a seat for the device and an elongated tube and a flange formation on one side of said bottom wall, said tube having laterally spaced side walls disconnected at their outer ends'to provide a slot between them opposite the bottom wall longitudinally of the tube, and said bottom wall extending'later'ally beyond said side walls and having return bend connections therewith to integrally connect the side walls to the bottom wall, said flange formation extending along one side edge of the tube in spaced relation thereto and being constituted of a folded section of the adjacent return bend connection of the bottom wall to integrally connect said flange to both the bottom wall and the adjacent side wall of the tube.

'10. In combination, a window frame, a sash slidably mounted within said frame, a metal weather strip device for the sash within the frame and extending substantially the full length of the travel of the sash within the frame, said device being secured to the frame and formed to provide a bottom wall and a slotted tube and a flange formation both extending outwardly from said bottom wall towards the sash, said tube having laterally spaced side wall members extending into a groove in the adjacent side portion of the sash, said flange formation constituting a wall member extending along one longitudinal edge of the device in spaced relation to the tube and overlapping the adjacent outer side surface a of the sash, and a coiled spring for lifting the sash located within the tube, said spring having its upper end in fixed relation to the upper end of the tube and its lower end connected to the sash through the slot in the tube, said device being comprised of resilient sheet metal and having one of said wall members tensioned to press and normally hold the sash in sliding contact with the adjacent wall member with suflicient tightness to hold the sash in any position of sliding adjustment within the frame against the lifting action of the spring.

11. In combination, a window frame, a sash slidably mounted within said frame, a metal weather strip device for the sash within the frame and extending substantially the full length of the travel of the sash Within the frame, said device being secured to the frame and formed to provide a bottom wall and a slotted tube and a flange formation both extending outwardly from said bottom wall towards the sash, said tube having laterally spaced side wall members extending into a groove in the adjacent side portion of the sash, said flange formation constituting a wall member extending along one longitudinal edge of the device in spaced relation to the tube and overlapping the adjacent outer side surface of the sash, and a coiled spring for lifting the sash located within the tube, means connecting the upper end of the springto the upper end of the tube, means connecting the lower ,endof the spring to the sash through the slot in the tube, said device being comprised of resilient sheet metal and having one of said wall members tensioned to press and normally hold the sash in sliding contact with theadjacent wall member with sufiicient' tightness to hold the sash in any position of sliding adjustment within the frame against the lifting action of the spring and said tube having its side wall members providing the slot in the tube and overlyigg the spring to house the same within the tu MARTIN J. GOSSEN. 

